FLORHAM PARK, N.J.—Rex Ryan danced around questions on a conference call with reporters Monday, steadfastly refusing to disclose why backup quarterback and supreme distraction Tim Tebow was active for Sunday’s 27-17 loss to San Diego yet didn’t play a snap.

Although those kind of non-answers from a head coach are frustrating for media and fans alike, that type of stonewalling ultimately is not all that important in terms of the big picture for the Jets’ organization.

The Jets need a plan for the future at quarterback, so we're laying the groundwork. (AP Photo)

What does matter is that Ryan and Co. save that brand of mealy mouthed indecision for public consumption, and act swiftly and decisively behind the scenes to try to solve their broken quarterback situation going forward.

The first item on that agenda is a no-brainer. Tebow must be jettisoned. Ryan recently also has danced around questions about whether the Tebow trade has been a failure for the Jets. Well, his refusal to admit it doesn’t make it any less so.

As this latest fiasco demonstrated, Tebow is the ultimate distraction, although other than his reported refusal to play the Wildcat on Sunday, it usually is no fault of his own. His mere presence attracts a media and fan following not at all commensurate with his limited skills as a quarterback. The Jets apparently discovered his lack of throwing ability quickly after they foolishly acquired him in a trade with Denver in March.

Ryan’s naming of third-stringer Greg McElroy to replace Mark Sanchez showed what the team’s braintrust thinks of Tebow. They believe he's nothing more than a gimmick.

His presence cannot have helped Sanchez, although the fact is Sanchez already had started to decline before Tebow was brought in. But if the Jets can unload Tebow on a team desperate for something positive to market, i.e., his hometown team of Jacksonville, they should take whatever they can get and move on.

Sources indicate owner Woody Johnson was the driving force behind the acquisition of Tebow. He also was believed to have been heavily involved in trading for another icon, Brett Favre, in 2008. Johnson also was present when the Jets’ hierarchy met with Sanchez weeks before the team drafted him in the spring of 2009.

In fact, Johnson said in an interview in October, “I see the same things in Mark Sanchez [as] when I first met him.”

And therein lies one problem the Jets must fix before they obtain their next quarterback. Johnson is a rich man, but he's not a scout or a football personnel expert. Yes, the owner should be consulted on major decisions. It’s his money being spent, after all.

But he needs to let his football people, whomever they might be going forward with to make the ultimate calls. General manager Mike Tannenbaum is squarely on the hot seat, and there’s a good chance he won’t be back, at least not in charge of the front office.

Johnson and the rest of the Jets’ brass were impressed by Sanchez’s confident demeanor and charm in the interview. What they failed to note was that he played only one year as a starter, and it was in a quarterback’s paradise. He had a nearly airtight offensive line, an explosive running game and speedy, acrobatic receivers.

That’s why Sanchez’s NFL performance has dropped as the talent level around him has declined. Although he was a No. 5 overall pick, Sanchez has proven to be more of a complementary quarterback, one who relies on the quality of those around him rather than lifting other players on his own.

His decision-making has deteriorated and his confidence appears shot. The Jets need to move on from him, but the contract extension Tannenbaum signed him for in March (before the Tebow trade but after the Jets’ brief flirtation with Peyton Manning) will make that difficult.

Not only is Sanchez due $8.25 million in guaranteed money, the Jets would incur a $17.1 million cap hit if he is cut or traded.

A possible solution is to see if Sanchez is amenable to restructuring his deal in exchange for being traded, which would allow him to get out of a toxic situation. It’s doubtful any potential trading partner would want to take on a large portion of his salary, but the Jets could ask.

The Jets then could pursue someone such as Seattle’s Matt Flynn or San Francisco’s Alex Smith in a trade, but they shouldn't forget about McElroy. It’s hard to judge him at the moment, given he was sacked 11 times in his first start. McElroy appears to have the potential of being a savvy game manager, which is what the defense-oriented Ryan might prefer anyway. He at the very least should be given the chance to compete with a veteran.

Oh, and that veteran should not be Philadelphia’s Michael Vick, who likely will be released after the season. The Jets need to move away from quick fixes at quarterback and start thinking about the long haul.